SNL Skewers Fox News (And Glenn Beck!) On Election (VIDEO)

by Rachel Sklar | 11:59 am, November 8th, 2009

» 8 comments

Screen shot 2009-11-08 at 11.53.39 AM Last night’s Saturday Night Live opened with a sketch spoofing Fox News, its coverage of the election — and, of course, Glenn Beck.

The sketch was loaded with send-ups — Greta Van Susteren by Kristen Wiig, Shep Smith by Bill Hader, Brit Hume by Will Forte, Karl Rove by Bobby Moynihan and Juan Williams by Kenan Thompson — and took aim at assertsions that the election was a referendum on Obama. (Hume: “He had ten months – ten months! – in office, and he could not find time to fix the greatest economic collapse in modern times, or win one of the two wars that he inherited.” Rove: “Let’s not forget that it was under HIS watch that we lost the King of Pop.”) Oh yes, the Fox “panel” also featured Fred Armisen as lone Dem Joe Trippi (the joke being that Trippi was an overlooked, ignored afterthought).

The highlight of the sketch, though, was Jason Sudeikis as Glenn Beck who declared Tuesday’s election “the return of Freedom,” got choked up, and took to the chalkboard to rearrange the letters in Greta’s name. (“A Great” for “A great, great nation” — the joke being that Glenn Beck can’t spell.)

Great, zingy sketch — but my only quibble here is with the glaringly off-note of Shep Smith. Played by the usually spot-on Hader, this version of Shep is inaccurate in that it portrays him as pushing a nakedly partisan agenda, which Smith is well-known precisely for not doing. All told, though, that’s balanced out by Juan Williams’ mustache and Glenn Beck’s hat. Watch below:

Of course I like this sketch spoofing Fox News’ election coverage — it agrees with me. Nice Juan Williams from Kenan Thompson (mustache!), great Greta Van Susteren from Kristen Wiig, funny Karl Rove from Bobby Moynihan, and a shout-out to Joe Trippi, even if it’s clear that the SNL makeup people had no clue what he looked like. Best line in the whole thing: “Let’s not forget that it was under HIS watch that we lost the King of Pop.” A nit: Bill Hader as Shep Smith was way too smugly partisan, with shades of Keith Morrison. But on the flip side, I think Jason Sudeikis may need to get an Emmy for his impression of Glenn Beck. Outstanding.

m

Yup. The only bad thing about the sketch was Shep Smith. That’s how I felt too.

I have to say though the most accurate portrayal of all was the composition of the panel (of any 4 person panel, at least 3 are conservative).
http://trickletown.vox.com/ Trickletown

Wow, my prayers were answered! And wearing the three pointy hat!
Trickletown says:
November 6, 2009 at 4:29 pm
Not a big fan of Stewart snark. I can’t wait for the inevitable Saturday Night Live “Glenn Beck” sketch. Jason Sudeikis ( does the Biden impersonation) looks exactly like him.
dee321

Jason Sudeikis was phenomenal. He captured “the Beck look”. Is he a genius or is he insane? He laughs. He cries. He misspells. Jason caught it all, including the shoulders and the walk. Beautiful!
dee321

Kristen’s Greta was pretty good, but it was almost cruel especially when she switched her lip clench.
Bobby’s Karl Rove was good. Ugly and funny and go ahead and be as harsh as Rove is in person.

Shep Smith is the only actual reporter on Fox and I don’t think he should have received a bad rap, although Hader did portray his look/mannerisms well. I think in the next sketch like this, show Shep saying “I don’t think we were fair and balanced on this one.” (one of Shep’s actual quotes)
http://trickletown.vox.com/ Trickletown

I enjoyed the Beck bit emmensly. That said, I have to ask, have the writers ever watched FNC other than the Glenn Beck show? Greta doesn’t anchor election coverage. Shep Smith is nothing like the character portrayed. The rest, gratuitous and stereotypical.
sallyminster

As a big GB fan, loved the portrayal! Dead on comedic approach. Jason Sudeikis is the cast member on the male side to watch. Haven’t seen this good since the days of Phil Hartman and Chris Farley. Let some time go by, and it would behoove SNL to have Glenn host! He’s freakin’ hilarious…and smart (mixed with a little crazy..but who isn’t these days?) Great Job, Jason and get well Glenn!
GIVEMEFREEDOM

“sallyminster” is right! SNL have should have ALLLLL the FOX stars host SNL . . . . think of the ratings with all those best of the bests.
hkyplayer

That was great! ” Under his watch we lost the king of Pop!”